Microsoft: Messenger to Skype Transition Begins April 8

According to the Windows 8 maker, the update will be rolled out in a phased manner with English speaking users set to receive the update first while and Brazilian Portuguese users are to receive the update on April 30 or later. The update will not be rolled out to Chinese users where Microsoft is continuing its Messenger service.

Announcing the update, Microsoft’s Skype marketing integration director, Parri Munsell, wrote in a blog post “We want everyone who uses Messenger to have a positive experience.”

“Upgrading to Skype can help you communicate in flexible ways, and be connected on more devices and platforms including Windows, Mac, iOS, Windows Phone, Android and soon Blackberry”, Munsell added further.

Back in November, Microsoft had first announced its plans to retire the Messenger service in lieu of its acquisition Skype. Just last month, it revealed that the service will be completely shuttered on March 15 but, ZDNet is of the opinion that the service will remain in existence till April and only one per cent of the entire user base will see that their Messenger service has ceased to exist.

Skype has also provided a link to a tutorial that shows how a Messenger user can go about using Skype.

Users of Skype apps on iOS, Android and Mac are also in for some good news as the VoIP service is going to roll out video messaging options to these apps in the US, UK and several other countries.

Mittal has been interested in Mobiles, Social Networking and the web since her teens. Mittal has been actively involved in the design of ParityNews.com and has assisted Ravi from day one. Being involved in social networking at a personal level and internet at a professional level, she has made it a point to cover these areas as and when something important happens.